Image captionCrowds were treated to sunshine as Downpatrick’s annual parade got into full swing

Who was St Patrick?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he lived in the 5th century AD and is understood to have played a major part in converting the Irish to Christianity.

While St Patrick really existed, and some of his writings survive, his value does not really come from historical details but from the inspiration of a man who returned to the country where he had been a child slave, in order to bring the message of Christ.

He is traditionally associated with the shamrock plant, which he used to explain the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

It is believed he is buried in Downpatrick, County Down.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Vardakar travelled to Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House last Thursday.

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Media captionDonald Trump received a bowl of shamrock from Irish PM Leo Varadkar for St Patrick’s Day

As is tradition, he presented US President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrock.

Here are some of the main St Patrick’s Day events across the island of Ireland: